Stereo, I'm not sure either. I have never had a digital cable longer than one meter. When I upgraded my present cable, I went from a 1-meter Wyde Eye to a half-metre Ash. I got more focus, detail and timbral accuracy, and that helped my perception of the bass, certainly. Going to my present DAC made much more difference in extension and energy at the low end, though.
Steve Nugent is a very competent engineer. His advice is worth considering carefully, and although his modding service is not cheap, his clients say you get what you pay for. If you contacted him , he might suggest a way to get more slam out of your current DAC. I really don't know if that would be the most cost-effective way, or how it would affect your DAC's resale value if you ever wanted to move up.
Your second digital cable sounded worse, and it was a short one. It may not have represented a big enough step up. Price is not an indication, BTW--I've listened to one or two very costly cables I thought way overpriced, and one or two I didn't.
There are three of us who look at your list of gear and say the quality of your cable could be improved, and one who seems to be saying it is the cable's length that is most important. Beyond that, Steve Nugent seems to be suggesting your source could use some work. I haven't heard the AN DACs, so I would be guessing if I said your DAC lacked slam. (Steve has heard them--the DAC 4 at least, because he mods it.) I have no problem with the slam of my own DAC, but YMMV.
It would cost you $69 plus shipping, according to Zu's page, to test a 1.5m Firemine, minus resale of the cable you don't keep ; less if you win a promo auction. You might still be looking for more slam afterwards. So it goes.
I'll try 1 meter vs. 1.5 meters of Wyde Eye ( I'm such a skeptic ) in the next week or so, and post the result. I bet I prefer my Ash, and will continue to suggest you try one, but we'll see.
Steve Nugent is a very competent engineer. His advice is worth considering carefully, and although his modding service is not cheap, his clients say you get what you pay for. If you contacted him , he might suggest a way to get more slam out of your current DAC. I really don't know if that would be the most cost-effective way, or how it would affect your DAC's resale value if you ever wanted to move up.
Your second digital cable sounded worse, and it was a short one. It may not have represented a big enough step up. Price is not an indication, BTW--I've listened to one or two very costly cables I thought way overpriced, and one or two I didn't.
There are three of us who look at your list of gear and say the quality of your cable could be improved, and one who seems to be saying it is the cable's length that is most important. Beyond that, Steve Nugent seems to be suggesting your source could use some work. I haven't heard the AN DACs, so I would be guessing if I said your DAC lacked slam. (Steve has heard them--the DAC 4 at least, because he mods it.) I have no problem with the slam of my own DAC, but YMMV.
It would cost you $69 plus shipping, according to Zu's page, to test a 1.5m Firemine, minus resale of the cable you don't keep ; less if you win a promo auction. You might still be looking for more slam afterwards. So it goes.
I'll try 1 meter vs. 1.5 meters of Wyde Eye ( I'm such a skeptic ) in the next week or so, and post the result. I bet I prefer my Ash, and will continue to suggest you try one, but we'll see.